The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-04-07

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not even been thought of by the peo-
pie out there, but reasons that appeal
to eastern capitalists in voices of thun-
der. And these reasons explain the
why's and wherefores of eastern capt.
talists coming out here to invest their
money in Kansas dirt.
In looking over a copy of the North
field (Vt.) News, which some kind
friend marked and sent to our address,
we have come across some of these
Here they are, in the shape
of an interview with gentleman who
had been out west to see for himself:
''Do think this boom business is
said Col. John Thomas to an
Inquiry by News man who met him
this morning, after his return from the
west.
Eyes do think it is genuine, and
especially out in Kansas. But it is not
all quite the square thing. You see We
folks of the east don't interpret this
word boom as they do out there. We
have an idea that it means rapid sub
stantial growth, but those western fell
lers just give yip-p-p!, scatter maps
with railI Dads all plastered over 'em,
commence to buy and sell among them
selves, and there's your BOOM
''Invest any, Colonel"
"Investi bought in, was going
to say every blessed town from Duluth
to Little Rock, Ark. Options, you
know. Put up so much for the privil-
eye of buying in certain time at a
certain figure. That's the way the
business is handled in your genuine
boom town; it's just like bucket
shop deal, and that's where so many
poor devils get left-can't margin their
deals. It's regular gambling craze
that is, in too many places"
"Where does this craze rage the
mOst?"
''Oh, it's generally anywhere from
Ohio west. Almost every town that
has a newspaper, or can hire one, is
screaming itself hoarse; but of course
there are exceptions. Kansas, / think
has the most legitimate conditions OF
activity. I visited a dozen or more
towns there-Topeka, Emporia, OF
tawa, Newton, Garden City, Wichita,
Fort Scotland found them all -four
ishing, and most of them on good, sub
stantial grounds.
You see construe this western ac-
tiYity not 80 much to the imitation Of q
boom bubble, as to the fact that the
moneyed men of the east, especially
those who had their funds in United
States bonds, are seeking O new invest
ment, and they have very properly con-
Guided that the earth is the safest
place. And as they have been satisfied
with low rate of interest in govern
ments, they naturally think that the
cheap lands of the west give fair
promise of good interest, especially as
the Yankee dollar always has a quick
ening influence iii western soil.
Il could mention two or three towns
-Emporia, in Lyon county, notably
where there is what we fasteners call
boom, and all because of what seems
to be sudden recognition of qualities
by eastern men of wealth.
"Emporia I've made an investment
or two there) would get red-headed if
you were to call her activity 'bOom, y
and yet such scrambling for lots and
tracts was not equaled in towns where
the speculative fever was wild.
This illustrates the point am max
ing that the policy of the government
in calling in its bonds is at the bottom
of this"
''Emporia is a beautiful town OF
about 1900 inhabitats, situated be-
tween the NeoSho and Cottonwood
rivers, about half mile from either
and seven miles from the junction OF
the two, on a tract of land about two
miles square, gently slOping to the
south and just undulating enough to
AFFORD good drainage. 1t is well situa-
ted as to railroadS-has four now in
operation, and three more, with bonds to
the amount of S225 900 already voted,
Of which she is sure. Besides this, the
largest stock yards in Kansas are. To-
Gated at this point, and double track
is to be built west to Elinor by the
Santa Fe company. Her supply of coal
is unlimited, and she is unus-
ually fortunate in water pow
er, having a river on each side OF
tive power sufficient to drive all the
mills that can be erected on their
banks. With all these and many other
advantages, including the richest agri-
cultural lands in the state, she has
never approached a BOOM" until q
week or two ago, when all of a sudden
one Friday-I was there-the very at
mosphere seemed to be charged with
''the influence" and nearly everybody
even servant girls and the drummeri
who happened to be in town, went tx
| buying lots. inquired around anC
found that syndicate of eastern mil
| lionaires had an agent in the town
| who had been quietly picking
up a half a dozen different in
| terests, and had invested abou
one hundred thousand before
any one found it out. Other eastern
men have been jumping in their since
and you never saw q brisker place. Tn,
only things she lacks is manufactures
and she has immense advantages 70
| them
"Then you intimate that the demo
cratic party is really responsible 70
western activity"
I'm not going to be drawn into
political trap, young man. You ma
credit the democracy. if you like, o
Cleveland, or Manning, or anybody
but tell you that it Is those unlocke
dollars hunting for a new home, an,
not wild bubble of speculation tina
is whOoping things in Kansas.
WAS in the war?'' said Tralalou il
amazement. "By jove. was right a
the front and in the midst of it all tn
time. sang tenor III church choi
for six years. War? That was near1
flfty-four years ago and--do you Sc
that boy over the way throwing stone